Dental tray



June 28, 1938. A. LANGE DENTAL TRAY Filed April 4, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor Allert Lcm /zwz, M

Attorney A. LANGE June 28, 1938.

DENTAL TRAY Filed April 4, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Immtor Aueri Lem QC Attorney Patented June 28, 1938 UNITED STATES PATET OFFIQE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to dental trays used in taking and making impressions of teeth and/or adjacent mouth structure, preliminary to making plates, bridges, etc. and has for its object the provision of means whereby the plastic impression material in the tray may be cooled, hardened and set.

With the above and other objects in view, as will be apparent, this invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts all as hereinafter more fully described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is an exterior plan view of a dental tray, embodying the present invention designed for the making of upper impressions;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is an exterior plan view of a tray constructed in accordance with this invention designed for the making of lowerimpressions;

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation thereof; and

Fig. 5 is a central longitudinal section of the tray for making lower impressions being a section along line 5-5 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of that form of the invention shown in Fig. 1 being taken along line 6-6 of Fig. l.

Heretofore in the making of oral impressions, a perforated metal tray has been used and provided with a cavity in which is placed suitable plastic impression material. The tray containing the softened impression material is placed in the patients mouth and the teeth and/or adjacent mouth structures are embedded in the plastic 3 material in the tray. While the tray is held in the patients mouth cold water is sprayed against the exposed surface of the tray causing the plastic impression material to harden and set so that it may be removed from about the mouth without the impression becoming distorted 1 or warped. The spraying of cold water over the exposed surface of the tray is necessarily an untidy, inefiicient and somewhat complicated operation, not only requiring one hand of the operator to hold the tray in place and the other hand to spray the water, but it is also essential to support a pan under the patients chin to receive and catch the water passing from the patients mouth.

The present invention contemplates a tray construction whereby water or other cooling agent may operate and cool the tray without being freed in the patients mouth. To accomplish this a series of tubes are secured to the normally exposed surface of a dental tray when in the mouth,

and means is provided for the passage of water or other cooling agent simultaneously through these tubes. Thus, the tray and its contents are thoroughly cooled, whereby the plastic impression sets or becomes hardened. Furthermore, no water is freed in the patients mouth and only one hand is required to complete the impression and hold the tray in position while the plastic impression material is being cooled and becomes set.

Reference being had more particularly to the drawings, l0 designates a dental tray for use in conjunction with upper teeth and/or adjacent mouth structure, and H designates a tray designed to cooperate with lower teeth and/or adjacent mouth structure. The trays II] and H are of standard construction and shape and are foraminated, as at l2.

The upper tray I 0 is shaped to fit flush against the roof of the mouth and to that end is provided with an elevated or raised central portion l3. The edge of the tray 10 has an outstanding flange [4 that rests to the exterior of the upper gum when the tray is situated in its operative position. This flange l4 and the elevated or raised central portion l3 of the plate combine to create a channel in which the plastic impression material is received and also in which the upper teeth and/or adjacent mouth structure is embedded in such material.

The tray ll, designed to coact with the lower teeth and/or adjacent mouth structure, is constructed of the same material as the upper tray H]. In this form the tray is generally U-shaped to follow the outline and contour of the lower jaw and on each side has an outstanding flange l5, said flanges combining to create and define a channel It. The plastic impression material is placed in this channel It after which the tray l l is inverted and so positioned over the lower teeth and/or adjacent mouth structure that the latter becomes embedded in the impression material contained within the channel It.

In order to so pass a confined cooling agent over the exposed surface of the tray II] when positioned within a patients mouth, a series of relatively thin metal tubes I6, l1, and I8 are permanently secured to the exterior surface of said tray. While only three of these tubes are illustrated it is manifest that the number thereof may be increased or decreased without departing from the spirit and scope hereof. It is likewise to be noted that tubes may be of any suitable shape and size and may contact with or operate over any desired portions of the exposed surface of the tray.

Each of these tubes l6, l1, and [8 start at one side of the central point at the front of the tray l0, extends over the body of the tray to return to a point adjoining the starting point. One end of each tube constitutes an inlet for the cooling agent while the opposite end is the exhaust or waste therefor. Hence, each tube has a constant and complete circulation of cooling agent, such as water, through it. An example of a practical arrangement of the tubes is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, where the tube I6 initiates at one side of the central point of the front of the tray 10, extends centrally under the elevated or raised portion [3 of the tray to the rear extremity thereof and then extends along the edge of the flange l4 surrounding the tray until it again reaches the central raised or elevated portion l3 of the tray whereupon it is right angularly bent to extend toward and project beyond the front of the tray. The second or central tube I1 follows the same general course as does the tube it except that it extends only part way to the rear extremity of the tray and along the approximate center of the flange 14. The extremities of this tube ll are parallel to each other and to the extremities of the other tubes referred to. The tube [8 similarly is arranged except that it is positioned adjacent the base of the flange Hi and nearer to the front of the tray.

The corresponding extremities I9-20 of the several tubes I6, H, and I8 are brought together into close parallel proximity. The terminals [9 of the tubes and the opposite terminals 20 are each housed in a jacket 2| which together with the extremities of the tubes projects from and beyond the forward or front portion of the tray to constitute a handle for the manipulation and support of the tray. A flexible tube (not shown) of rubber or other suitable material, connects with one of the jackets 2| to supply water or other cooling agent thereby conducting the latter to the multiple tube extremities contained therein; and a similar flexible tube (not shown) is connected to the opposed or companion jacket 2! for the discharge or waste of the water or other cooling agent after it has passed through the tubes l6, I7, and [8. Thus, the water or cooling agent is fed into one jacket 2| and the tube terminals located therein to pass through all of the tubes l6, I1, and I8 simultaneously and be discharged through the opposite extremities of the tubes contained in the companion jacket 2 i.

In that form of the invention disclosed in Figs. 3, 4, and 5, the arrangement of the tubes is similar to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The principal diiference is that the tubes are bent, as at 22, to rest upon the face of the inner side flange [5 of the tray H, and are each bent laterally to follow the cross-sectional contour or curvature of the tray H so that the tubes rest flush against the exterior surfaces of the flanges l5 of the tray H and cross the base portions thereof.

The extremities of the tubes housed in the jackets 2! together with said jackets, constitute a handle by which either form of the tray may be manipulated and supported and a continuous flow of the cooling agent provided to cool the tray and its contents and to effect the hardening and setting of the plastic impression material contained within the channel of the tray and surrounding the teeth and/or surrounding mouth structure.

The advantages of the present invention are manifold. The patient benefits in that there is no discomfort to sensitive teeth because of cold water, no water is freed in the mouth to enter the throat or run over the chin, and no demand is made for cooperation with the operator in holding a receptacle under the chin to receive the water freed in the mouth.

The operator benefits in that no cooperation is required of the patient, the process is clean and orderly, there is no special preparation of the tray with wax or compound necessary and after a moment the tray can be left in the patients mouth without supervision freeing the operator for other duties and work.

In addition to the foregoing advantages the use of the present invention produces a rapid chilling of the impression material; results in a minimum distortion of the impression by either the operator or the patient; permits of no interruption of the chilling by vomiting, coughing, retching or crying on the part of the patient; may be used while the patient is in any position as the position of the patients head does not affect the operation of the device; and its simplicity makes the present tray particularly adaptable for use on children.

All the areas of the mouth are chilled simultaneously. By the use of the present tray areas of the mouth frequently missed by the prior methods can be reached and chilled. Thus the soft palate area is cooled before there is much movement thereof or the accumulation of secretions to distort the impression; the entire periphery of the tuberosity areas are completely and thoroughly chilled; the palatal area, where the greatest mass of impression material is generally situated is quickly chilled as the greatest amount of the cooling agent is carried to that point; and the area under the tongue is thoroughly and quickly cooled reducing distortion due to the movement of the tongue to a minimum.

What is claimed is:

1. A dental tray comprising a body adapted to receive and hold a plastic dental impression material, in combination with a plurality of individual tubes lying against and following the contour of the outer surface of the body, one tube being positioned at each edge of the body and at least one tube being located between the tubes at the edges of the body, each tube having its end portions projecting outwardly from the approximate center of the front of the tray body and resting parallel one to the other, the corresponding end portions of the several tubes being positioned in close proximity thereby forming two groups of tube end portions projecting outwardly from the center of the front of the body, and a sleeve or jacket surrounding and permanently secured to each group of tube end portions, said sleeves or jackets being parallel one to the other and spaced sumciently to permit the outer extremity of each to be removably received in a pipe or hose.

2. A dental impression tray comprising a foraminous metallic sheet, cooling tubes secured to the outside surface of said sheet in heat conducting relationship therewith, one of said tubes extending along the marginal edge of said sheet and others thereof being spaced inwardly from the margin of the sheet, each of said tubes having end portions adjacent the palatal portion of the sheet, and inlet and outlet pipes enclosing respectively the inlet and outlet ends of said tubes, thereby to connect said tubes in parallel for the circulation of a cooling fluid therethrough and to form handle means for the tray.

ALLERT LANGE. 

